Straight bar knitting machine



May 30, 1933. w CQRAH 1,912,257

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTNG MACHINE Filed July 2 8, 1928 ,3 Sheets-Sheet l 511" 5f ,a 3 gf 541/ i f 7 Y, da a 5636 C 47 fin j] 50 "f L 57 5f 4f jf x [7' y 40 A May 30, 1933. W, CORAH 1,912,257

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTIG MACHINE Filed July 28. i928 s sheets-sheet 2 L j /llf] r '50 \g I mmuurunune@ f Cbm l f1 @@IIHIIIMIIIIIIH L AT TVS.

W. CORAH STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE May 30, 1933.

Fild July 28 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 M//iam Cara/7 l Patented May UNITE-o STATES PATENT ori-*lcs WILLI OOBH,

lor transl-man, Homann. aasmnon To smrsoN. WRIGHT a LowF.` Lnrn'xn. or surfeurs-aannam, ENGLAND i STRAIGHT BAR INITIING HACHINE Application lied July im, Serial le. $8,043, ald in Great lritain January 31, 1928.

This invention comprises improvements in or relating to straight bar knitting machines and has for its principal object the provision of means for producing` new and im roved fabrics on such machines and means w ereb the range of patterns and particularly in ri fabrics can be greatly extended.

According to the present invention a straight bar knitting machine is provided with a plurality of` more than two thread guide bars and mechanism for selecting one ar and causing same to operate as a ground thread ide bar and for selecting another bar an causing same to act as a plating thread guide bar during the knitting of any selected course, the remaining guide bars being idle during such knitting.

Another object of the invention is to providean improved modeof and means for controlling the traversingmoti'on of a thread carrier bar which is normally traversed continuously during'the operation of the machine, such thread bar control enabling plated fabrics to be produced' in which are embodied any desired number of courses of plain, i. e. unplated, fabric.

With this latter object in view, a feature of this invention consists in the provision in a straight bar knitting machine of means whereby a threadcarrier bar` or bars connected frictionally to and adapted to be traversed by a continuously reciprocating drive bar or the like is or are locked against motion and released for being traversed at any predetermined knitted course,

Another feature consists in governing the periods of traverse of a bar or'bars as above y a locking device which is controlled, i. e.

rendered operative or inoperative, by a travelling chain or the like.

A further feature consists in 'the provision in a straight bar knitting machine having a plurality of selectively operable thread carrier bars for producing a patterned fabric of locking means as before named for governing the traverse of one or more of said bars, said locking device being, if desired, controlled from a travelling chain or its equivalent whieh also governs the selection of the remaining carrier bars.

Yet another feature resides in the employment of a thread carrier bar having locking means for governin the traversing thereof as above as an additional ground thread car- Tier bar in a straight bar knitting machine adapted for the production of plated fabrics;

and in this connection a plurality of seleci tively operable ground thread bars and a plurality of selectivel operable platin thread bars maybe provii'ed, the number o ground thread bars bein in excess of the number of platin thread ars and any one of saidI groun thread bars being selected to o erate in conjnnction with any one of said p atingv Additionally, means are provided whereby the narrowin or fashioning mechanism customarily emp oyed on straight bar knitting machines operates in conjunction with the improved t read bar control to enable the extent of traverse of the carrier bar to be adJusted during narrowing or fashioning.

For the purpose of more fully describing the nature of this invention reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 illustrates in part-sectional end elevation one arrangement of selectively operable thread feeding mechanism for producing plated patterned fabrics and showing the improved thread bar control ap lied to an additional ground thread carrier ar.

Figure 2 shows in front elevation a continuation of the mechanism shown in Figure 1.

` Figure 3 is an enlarged end elevational view of the controlling mechanism for the additional bar and illustrating the position relatively thereto of a depending linger o erated by the narrowing or fashioning meciianism and functioning as hereinafter described. i

Figure 4 is a plan view of Fi 3 looking in thei direction of arrow X, ut with the 5' depending finger of the narrowing mechaA nsm removed.

Fig. 5 is a plan view, with parts broken awa and others in section illustrating the mec anism shown in Figure 1.

In Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings the invention 1s shown by way of example as applied to a straight bar rib knitting machine or producing plated fabrics. Four carrier bars 1, 2, 3, 4 are provided having carriers 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a respectively which guide the threads to the needles shown at 5, and in the arrangement shown the two lower bars 1, 2

function as ground thread bars and the bars 3, 4 as plating thread bars, but it is to be unl .'20 derstood that the number and relative position of the ground and plating thread bars ma be altered.

e two ground thread bars are provided y at a suitable position in their length, refera` bly at or near one end with nose gui es, a, b,

one directly above the other, and the two plating thread bars with nose guides c, d', one above the other, the guides c, d being spaced longitudinally from the guides a, b, 3 to a distance not less than the greatest traverse of the bars.

To effect the selective traverse of either of the ground thread 'bars 1, 2, the nose guides a, b thereon are adapted to be engaged by a nose 6 carried by a plate 7 mounted for vertical reciprocation between slideways 8 which slideways carry a horizontal foot 9 adapted for horizontal movement along a fixed slur bar 10 such movement being imparted to the slideways 8 and foot 9 by the customary slide 'bar 10a of the machine through the medium of friction boxes 10b, and said slide bar being traversed by the usual draw lever and link mechanism operated by a cam device at the rear of the machine. Projecting rearwardly from the nose plate 7 is an extension 11 pivotally'connected to a hollow rod 12. Workn i within this hollow rod is a rod 13 prov1 ed with a radial in 14 rejecting through a slot 15 in the r 12. e rod 13 is connected at its lower extremity to a boss 16 mounted to slide upon a rod 17 and parallel with this rod is a second rod 18 and these two are pivotally connected to the ends of a pair of levers 19 fulcrumed at 2O so that they constitute a cradle and allow of horizontal reciprocative motion being imparted to the boss 16 with rod 13 and associated parts along the rod 17.

To impart vertical reciprocative motionto the rod 13 from the levers 19,-in addition 'to Ind inde dent of the horizontal movement, l link 2 connects rod 18 to a lever 22 fulu at 23. This latter lever is connected by a lmk 24 to a lever 26 fulcrumed at 25 and de ending downwardly from the lever 26 is a gnk 27 pvotall connected to a bell-crank lever 28. The be-crank lever is ada ted to be actuated by links 29 carried by a c ain 30 to which traverse motion is imparted from the machine main shaft by any convenient means, Fi s. 2 and 5.

It will us be seen that'the nose 6 is moved up and down to select the bar to traversed, the size of link on thechain 30 determining 75 which bar is selected. `The ltraversing of the nose and bar is imparted from the customary slur bar of the machine thro h friction boxes in the usual manner as will later described, when referring to Figs. 3 and 4.

The nose guidesc, d, on plat carrier bars 3, 4, are adapted to be engaged a nose 31 pivoted at 32 to bracket 33 secure to plating bar 34 and actuated for vertical movement about said pivot by a link 35 which is connected at its lower end to a horizontal rod 36 carried at each end by levers 37. `These levers 37 are carried by another rod 38 parallel to rod 36, which rod 38 is mounted to rotate in brackets or arms 39 anchored to the machine tie bar 40 or other convenient stationary frame member the rods 36 and 38 with connecting levers 37 constituting a cradle.

Movement of the nose 31 about its pivot 32 may be effected from the lever 22 through an upstanding link 41 which is pivoted at its upper end to a short crank arm 42, said arm projecting laterally from and being fixed' to the aforesaid rotatable rod 38. In this way both of the noses 6 and 31 are simultaneously operated from the pue chain 30 or the like, and moved vertically to an equal extent to engage either of the nose guides a, lg, or c, d, res ectively.

he plating bar 34 receives its traversin motion in the customary manner throng friction boxes, said traversing motion being imparted to whichever carrier bar 3, 4 the nose 31 is in engagement. no

Suitable stops are provided for determining the length 'of traverse of the selected bars 1 to 4, as is usual.

After completing each traverse of the -selected bars in either direction the noses 6, 31 ,are moved so as to clear all nose guides a, b, c, d by means of acam 43 on a shaft 44 which "is rotated from the machine main shaft, said cam coacting with cam truck 45 carried by lever 22 and causing the crank lever 28 to move clear of links 29 on chain 30. While in this position the chlain is traversed to bring fresh links or parts thereof to bear on lever 28.

In addition to the thread carrier bars 1 to 4 is provided a carrier bar 46 with thread cartiers 47, said bar 46 being connected by the friction boxes 10b to the continuously traversing slide bar 10c. Extending transversely beneath this extra carrier bar 46 'at a suitable 13 position in its length is a horizontal arm pivoted at one end at 51 to a part of the machine frame, said arm having fixed thereon a pair of toothed members 52 located one on each side of the carrier bar 46 (Figs. 3 and 4). On this bar are fixed two further toothed members 53, 53a projecting one on each side of the bar and spaced apart longitudinally to a distance approximatmg to the length of traverse to be transmitted to said bar. The teeth on members 53, 53a project downwardly, and normally the arm 50 is pulled upwards by a spring 54- so as to cause one of the toothed members'52 to have an interlocking engagement with one of the members 53, 53a dependentuponwhich end of its traverse the bar has reached.Y

Normallyr the bar 46 with carriers 47 are locked from movement, but when it is required to lay any additional thread said locking means are released by displacing the locking arm 50 down against the pull of spring 54. This movement of the arm can be effected in many ways, such for example as by suitable link and lever mechanism operated at intervals from projections on a travelling chain or`the like to pull down the arm and release the carrier bar for traversing and laying thread; and in the arrangement shown in the drawings, the bar 46is adapted to be brought into operation when all of the ground and plating bars 1 to 4 are inoperative and thus produce plain stripes or parts in the fabric in addition to the plated patterns. This may be accomplished by connecting the pivoted locking arm 50 to the centrally plvoted lever 19 by a link 55, said link having an elongated slot 56 along which the pin 57 connected to lever 19 is adapted to slide during the operation of the noses 6 and 31 to select and traverse the bars 1 to 4. Vhen, however, the nose members are displaced to a position wherein the nose 6 is below the lowermost ground thread bar 1 and the nose 31 below the plating bars, the link ispulled down by the pin 57 and the locking arm 50 with toothed members 52 drawn down to release the ext-ra thread bar 46 which is then traversed to lay thread on the needles. At each end of its traverse the bar 46 is again locked by reason of the noses 6 and 31 being raised clear of all guides by the cam 43.

During narrowing or fashioning the pivoted locking arm 50 is depressed at the end of each knitted course so as to enable stops determining the traverse of extra bar 46 to be adjusted by any preferred well known means. To this end a depending finger 58, Fig. 3, is fixed to the usual horizontalspindle 59 located over the needles. which spindle carries the customary narrowing mechanism embodying depending loop-engaging points (not shown) which are shogged step-by-step across the machine and are moveddown to being lowered and raised from they usual rocking shaft to which same is connected by arms 59a. Each time the spindle 59 is lowered to transfer the loops, the'inger 58 depresses the free end of locking arm 50 to release the interlocked toothed members.

A fixed bracket 60 beneath which the arm 50 passes has an adjustable` screw stop 61 which determines the extent to which the arm can rise.

lVhen knitting stockings or socks embodying five striping threads, the four main bars 1 to 4 may be adjusted at the heel by the customary well known means to traverse their threads across the instep only, while the extra striping bar 46-may operate to lay thread across the heel and instep portions, the

threads laid by said extra bar being Subscquently cut up between heel and instep. The additional carrier bar 46 is preferably employed for thread which is used in the smallest amount of courses.

Additionally theimproved thread bar con-i trolling and locking means in accordance with this invention may be employed in connection with a machine such as is described in the specification accompanying our concurrent application for patent Serial No. 296,042, tiled July 28, 1928, which has matured into Patent N o. 1,793,587 dated Feb. 24, 1931, which machine embodies the use of a plurality of selectively operable heel carrier bars for producing a patterned selvedged heel on stockings and socks.

I claim 1. In a straight bar knitting machine, a thread carrier bar, a reciprocating drive bar, meansfor frictionally connecting said carrier bar to said drive bar so as to travel in unison, a pivoted arm extending transversely of the carrier bar, toothed elements on said arm, toothed elements on the carrier bar, means functioning normally to lock the toothed elements on the transverse arm with those on the carrier bar so as to retain the latter from motion, and means functioning at predetermined intervals to disengage the toothed locking elements and permit traverse of the carrier bar with said drive bar through said frictional connectin means.

2. In a straight bar nitting machine, a thread carrier bar, a reciprocating drive bar, means for frictionally connecting said carrier bar to said drive bar so as to travel in unison, a pivoted arm extending transversely of the carrier bar, toothed elements on said arm, toothed elements on the carrier bar, spring means functioning normally to lock the toothed' elements on the transverse arm' with those on the carrier bar so as to-retain the latter from motion, means functioningat predetermined intervals to disengage the toothed locking elements and rmit traverse of the carrier bar with said rive bar through said frictional connecting means, narrowing or fashioning mechanism, a depending linger carried by said mechanism and means whereby at each operation of said narrowing mechanism said finger coacts with the pivoted 'transverse arm so as to release the intermeshing toothed elements and enable the extent of traverse of the carrier bar to be adjusted.

v3. In a straight bar knitting machine, a plurality of thread carrier bars with carriers thereon, a drive bar, means for frictionally connecting the said thread carrier bars with the drive bar means for selecting said carrier bars to be traversed to produce an ornamental pattern fabric, a positively operating locking device for with-holding one of said carrier bars from traversing motion, a travelling patterning chain, automatic means coacting with said chain and operating to release the bar locking .device at predetermined and variable intervals and enable the said bar to be traversed at any predetermined and selected knitted course, and means coacting with the same patterning chain to govern the selection of the patterning carrier bars,

4. Inastraightbar knitting machinea lurality of carrier bars and thread gui ing means carried thereby arranged to lay threads upon' the machine needles, a reciproeating drive bar, means for selectively connecting the said carrier bars with the drive bar whereby they may be operated in different combinations, an additional thread carrier bar and thread guide for laying thread upon the needles, means connecting the said additional thread carrier bar with the driving means, and means under variable control for locking the said additional thread bar from movement while the other thread bars are in operation and for putting the said additional thread bar into connection with the driving means when the other thread bars are disconnected therefrom.

5. In a straightbarknitting machine, a plurality of more than two thread guide bars arranged close together in a series, two means, simultaneously operating, for shogging different bars,each beingarranged to be made to engage with one of the thread guides but not both simultaneously with the same thread guide, the guide bars not so engaged by the shogging means being Vleft idle, one of such shogging means arranged to give a lag to the bar it operates, whereby the guide bar operated by one shogging means lays a ground thread and that operated by the other means lays a plating thread and means for variably selecting which bars shall be operated by the respective shogging means f in knitting any particular course.

6. In a straight bar knitting machine, a plurality of more vthan two t read guides each provided with two means of connec- 'tion with drivin means, two means, simultaneously operating, for shogging different which it is connected so as to lay a ground thread and the other vto engage with the bar with which it is connected so as to lay a plating thread, the thread guidesnot so engaged by the driving means bein left idle and means for shifting the said riving parts so as to engage with different bars as may be selected, to produce the desired effects in knitting any particular course.'

7 In -a straightbar knitting machine, a plurality of four thread guides, each rovided with means of connection with riving means, arranged .in two series, two driving means, `simultaneously operating, for shogging different bars, each having a shiftable driving part adapted to be made to engage with one of the thread guide bars, one said shiftable part being arranged to engage with the connection means of the thread guide bars of one series, and the other to engage with the connection means of the other series,-and one of such sh ging means arranged to operate the guide ar with which it Vis connected so as to lay a ground thread and the other to en age with the bar with' which it is connecte so as to lay a lating thread, and means for selectively mov ng the driving parts so as to engage with different bars in different combinations, such means being operated from a single source and operatingA to shift one driving means to engage with t e guide bars in succession and for simultaneously shifting the other driving leans to engage successively with the guide ars.

8. In a straight bar knitting machine a plurality 'of more than two thread guide bars, a nose guide on each bar, the nose guides on the several bars being in line with one another when the bars are in position at the extreme end of their traverse, a air of shiftable driving noses, one arrange to engage with the nose guide of one bar and the'other to engage with the nose guide of the other bar, shogging means for operating the said noses, one operated so as to causethe bar it may shog to function as a ground thread bar and the other causing the bar it shogs to function as a plating thread bar and pattern mechanism for automatically shifting the said noses to simultaneously engage with diiferentlbars in different combinations, thesaid shifting means being arranged to move the noses into engagement successively with selected of the nose guides of the several guide bars, as may be desired.

9. In a straight bar knitting machine, a plurality of more than two thread guide bars,

a nose guide carried by each bar, such guides being arranged in sets formed by the corresponding guides on each bar, a pair of driving noses each adapted to engage with the nose guides of one set, link connections between the nose guides for movin them simultaneously so that the noses ma selectively engaged with the guides of diiferent bars, a pattern chain and operative connections between it and link connections between the noses whereby the latter are automatically caused to selectively en age with the nose guides, a ground threa traversing mechanism connected with one of the noses and a platin thread traversing member connected with t e other nose.

10. In a straight bar knitting machine the combination of a plurality of more than two thread guide bars, means for causing one bar to operate as a ground thread guide and another to operate as a plating thread guide in knitting any course and to leave the remaining guide bars idle, pattern mechanism for selecting which bars shall thus operate, and mechanism for disengaging the operating mechanism at the end of each traverse of the thread guide bars from the pattern mechanism, the pattern mechanism being adran d to make selection and driving connectlon at the end of each traverse.

i 11. In a straight bar knitting machine, a plurality of thread carrier bars and carriers thereon, friction means for traversing said bars, automatic means for selectively coupling said bars to the friction traversing means, a positive locking device for holding one of said bars from traverse, a patterning chain and automatic means cooperating therewith for releasing said locking device at predetermined and variable intervals for traverse in any selected knttin course, and means also cooperating with t e chain for governing the selection of the carrier bars.

WILLIAM CORAH. 

